DANCE

Aladdin, Dance Prism's latest original production, explores the exotic world of Scheherazade’s tales of One Thousand and One Nights for three performances only: on April 29 at 2:30 at the Collins Center in Andover. Young audience members are invited to meet Aladdin, the Princess, the Genie, and others at a complementary reception following the performance.

The production follows the impulsive young thief Aladdin from a vibrant Middle Eastern bazaar to imprisonment in a far away desert cave to the palace of the Sultan where, transformed into a Prince by the magic of a powerful Genie, he weds the beautiful Princess of his dreams. As choreographed by Columbia City Ballet soloist Miranda Bailey and Dance Prism's artistic director Mary Demaso, the production also features as wedding guests the legendary narrator Scheherazade and characters from others of her tales, including Sinbad the Sailor, the mermaid Jullanar, and the beleaguered Man with Three Wives. Harem dancers, gypsies, street vendors, and Genie-produced apparitions complete the cast.

Aladdin and the Princess will be played by Dance Prism’s Matt Tucker and Caitlin Klinger, with Jonathan H. Towle as the Genie. In addition to Dance Prism's regular company members, these performances will also feature guest artists from Columbia City Ballet.

According to production designer Nancy Bailey, this is a particularly colorful production, sporting some 220 costumes intended to evoke both the historical time and culture of the stories as well as the sense of fantasy and magic so central to them.

Dance Prism has presented affordable professional productions for the communities of New England since its founding in 1982., A classically focused ensemble distinguished both for its treatment of such narrative ballets as The Nutcracker, Coppélia, and Alice in Wonderland, as well as for its abstract works Dance Prism is committed to making the spectrum of ballet truly accessible and affordable to area communities. Dance Prism's Massachusetts touring schedule regularly includes appearances in such venues as Worcester's Mechanics Hall, the Collins Center in Andover, and the Jackson Arts Center at Bristol Community College in Fall River. Audiences of nearly 10,000 people per year see Dance Prism's acclaimed production of The Nutcracker.